At the Hog's Head, customers are charged two sickles per Butterbeer (£0.60 approximately),[3] but it is not certain whether this is a universal price for the drink, or if the price of the drink varies from location to location.

Butterbeer at The Wizarding World of Harry Potter can be served either cold with a taste similar to cream soda or frozen as a slush with a butterscotch-like foam on top. One may also purchase it either in a regular plastic cup or in a collectible mug. As of 12 December, 2012, over five million glasses of butterbeer have been served at the park, an event that was commemorated by the park giving away free butterbeers to one thousand guests that day.[9] Butterbeer is also served at The Making of Harry Potter.

Butterbeer may be based on Buttered Beer, which was a real drink. The earliest reference to Buttered Beer is from, 'The Good Huswifes Handmaide for the Kitchin' published in London in 1588 A.D., made from beer, sugar, eggs, nutmeg, cloves and butter back in Tudor times. Another old recipe for Buttered Beer, published by Robert May in 1664 A.D., from his recipe book, 'The Accomplisht Cook' calls for liquorish root and aniseeds to be added. British celebrity chef Heston Blumenthal recreated it for his Tudor Feast.